Monty the corgi, star of Olympics opening ceremony, dies

One of the Queen’s corgis that appeared in a sketch alongside James Bond as part of the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony has died, Buckingham Palace has announced.

Daniel Craig, the Queen and her corgis in a segment shown during the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony (Picture: BBC)

Monty the corgi died aged 13, several weeks after become a worldwide star when he joined fellow corgis Willow and Holly in welcoming Daniel Craig ‘s super spy to the palace to accept a mission from the Queen.

In the video segment that was played on big screens in the Olympic Stadium, the corgis roll over on their stomachs and stand to attention as the Queen and 007 depart in a helicopter destined for Stratford and from which their stunt doubles would later parachute out of.

Buckingham Palace said it was mourning Monty, who was previously owned by the Queen mother, and Cider, a daschund-corgi crossbreed known as a dorgi, who had also died.

As well as corgis Willow and Holly, dorgis Candy and Vulcan are still alive and kicking at the palace.

Monty is thought to have been named after Monty Roberts, the star of the BBC documentary A Real Horse Whisperer.

Mr Roberts, who advises the Queen on horses and corgis, is thought to have offered the Queen a new corgi puppy.